Recognized Leader, Trusted Advocate

Marla’s career has been a blend of law, policy, and strategic advocacy. After graduating from Yale University and earning her law degree from Harvard Law School, she gained considerable experience as a government relations attorney at Verner, Liipfert, where she worked alongside political figures like former Senate Majority Leaders George Mitchell and Bob Dole. Marla then served as counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, focusing on intellectual property, technology, and constitutional issues, which sharpened her ability to navigate complex policy matters. Returning to Verner, Liipfert, she became a Partner and led the Internet Ventures Group, working at the crossroads of law, policy, and emerging technologies.

Currently, as a Partner at ACG Advocacy, Marla helps clients craft strategic public policy initiatives and engage with key federal players, including the White House, Federal agencies, and Congress. Throughout her career, the versatile leader has been recognized as one of Washington, DC’s ‘Most Influential Business Women’ and has earned accolades such as being called an “industry insider,” a “mover and shaker,” and a “leading lobbyist.” She has also been repeatedly selected as a Washington, DC Super Lawyer and has received honors like ‘The Influencer’ by I AM Modern Magazine and ‘Top Lobbyist’ distinctions. These achievements reflect her commitment to making a significant impact in the ever-evolving fields of law, business, and public policy.

How ACG and Marla Drive Results for Clients

ACG Advocacy, based in Washington, D.C., is a prominent bipartisan government affairs and strategic consulting firm, providing services since 1994 to Fortune Global 500 companies, states, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations. The firm specializes in delivering sophisticated legislative and regulatory solutions, leveraging strong relationships across all federal government levels. Its focus on clarity, precision, and dedication drives meaningful results for clients.

Marla represents clients from various industries, including creators like authors, publishers, musicians, and producers. She strives to protect their intellectual property and helps them navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving policy landscape. This past year, Marla focused on safeguarding creators’ rights in the context of artificial intelligence and combating global piracy of creative works through impactful legislative and regulatory solutions.

One key achievement was Marla’s work in helping persuade congressional leaders to reject a tech mandate that would have denied creators their due royalties. She collaborated with clients and renowned artists such as David Byrne, Randy Travis, MC Lyte, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, and Melle Mel to bring their voices to Capitol Hill. For clients in the education sector, she engaged in successful efforts to convince the U.S. Department of Education to reconsider a proposed cash management rule that could have increased costs for students and disproportionately impacted underserved communities.

For technology clients, Marla worked on efforts to realign the mission of the International Trade Commission (ITC) to protect American innovators from unfair global competition and exploitative litigation, ensuring the competitiveness of U.S. industries. She is also deeply involved in antitrust and competition policy, advocating for balanced regulatory approaches that foster innovation while protecting consumers from monopolistic practices.

The Leadership Triad: Strategy, Communication, and Integrity

Marla defines her leadership philosophy as a balance of strategic insight, clear communication, and steadfast integrity. For her, strategic thinking is crucial in anticipating challenges and steering decisions toward long-term objectives. She prioritizes long-term, sustainable solutions over short-term fixes, focusing on outcomes that endure.

Clear communication with both clients and policymakers is foundational to Marla’s success in advocacy, and bridging the gap between the two groups is essential for advancing policy goals. With clients, Marla fosters an open dialogue to ensure that their objectives and concerns are fully understood, allowing her to craft strategies that align with their needs while navigating the complexities of the policy landscape. When engaging with policymakers, her ability to distill complex legal and policy issues into accessible, persuasive arguments helps build consensus and drive action. By tailoring her message to each audience—whether explaining intricate policy details to a legislator or offering strategic guidance to a client—Marla ensures that all parties are aligned and working toward the same goals, a key element in successful advocacy.

As a visionary and trailblazing leader, Marla places the utmost importance on leading with integrity, ensuring that her recommendations are both ethically sound and legally compliant. This unwavering commitment has earned her recognition as a “Top Lobbyist” by the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics for three consecutive years. Her adaptability, passion for mentoring, and dedication to lifelong learning have also been integral to her success in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of her field.

Advancing Gender Equity in Lobbying and Beyond

When Marla began her career as a lobbyist, she was often the only woman in the room, which was both challenging and motivating. Over time, she has witnessed significant strides in gender representation in lobbying and federal affairs, with more women taking on leadership roles and influencing policy.

However, she believes there’s still progress to be made, especially in the makeup of Congress and the goal of electing a female President. To achieve true equity, Marla emphasizes the importance of mentoring and sponsoring women in politics and fostering a culture that values diverse perspectives in decision-making.

Building Bridges to the Future

Marla envisions expanding and enhancing her practice at ACG Advocacy by building a dynamic, forward-thinking team. A key part of this vision is working alongside talented younger colleagues like Luke Lynch, a policy expert specializing in artificial intelligence. Luke’s innovative approach has been crucial in addressing the evolving challenges of AI regulation, showcasing the type of talent Marla aims to nurture.

Marla’s goal is to create an environment where emerging stars, like Luke, can thrive by bringing fresh perspectives and specialized knowledge in areas such as AI, competition, education, intellectual property, technology, and trade. By harnessing the collective strengths of the team, Marla aims to deliver innovative solutions and shape policies that address future challenges.

Through mentoring and collaboration with next generation leaders, Marla is committed to keeping the practice at the forefront of complex legislative and regulatory issues, ensuring ACG Advocacy remains a leader in public policy and strategic consulting while driving societal progress.

A Model for Public Policy Advocates

When asked who she sees as a role model for public policy advocacy, Marla points to Eleanor Roosevelt, who she views as a pioneering champion of social reform and diplomacy. Marla explains that as the First Lady of the United States, Roosevelt redefined the role by actively participating in policy discussions and contributing to the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a United Nations delegate. Marla sees Roosevelt’s unwavering advocacy, driven by persistence and moral clarity, as an inspiration to those in government affairs.

Marla: The DC Powerbroker

In the fast-paced world of policy and advocacy, Marla has excelled in the art of balancing legal expertise, strategic thinking, and effective communication. She aligns policy objectives with strategic goals, ensuring that every advocacy effort is built on a foundation of thorough research and sound positions. By maintaining clarity in her communication with both clients and policymakers, Marla ensures that all stakeholders are united in purpose, driving impactful outcomes. Her unique ability to navigate the complexities of Washington, D.C.’s political landscape, while staying firmly grounded in her commitment to integrity, has solidified her as a trusted powerbroker and a force in shaping policy.

A Journey Rooted in Lived Experience

Ashley Scotland’s path to founding Thriving Survivors was not a calculated career move. It was a visceral response to the systemic failures she witnessed, and endured, during her own trauma recovery. In 2015, as she emerged from her personal battle, Ashley was struck by a profound realisation: survivors of trauma were being systematically failed by the very systems designed to support them. They weren’t just slipping through the cracks, they were being abandoned.

“I wasn’t just an observer of these failures; I lived them,” Ashley recalls. “I saw how survivors were left adrift, without the tools or support to rebuild their lives. It wasn’t enough to offer temporary fixes. Survivors needed a holistic, transformative approach to healing.”

This realisation ignited a fire within Ashley. She knew that existing services, while well intentioned, often fell short. They offered superficial solutions for deep rooted wounds, leaving survivors trapped in cycles of pain and despair. Ashley envisioned something radically different: a “stage three” service that didn’t just acknowledge trauma but actively dismantled its grip, empowering survivors to reclaim their lives and thrive.

Building Thriving Survivors: A Baptism by Fire

In the early days, Thriving Survivors was a one-woman operation. Armed with nothing but her lived experience and an unwavering belief in the power of healing, Ashley poured every ounce of her energy into creating a service that was both compassionate and fiercely effective. She listened to survivors, adapted to their needs, and refused to compromise on her vision of providing the best possible support.

“It was a baptism by fire,” Ashley admits. “But I knew that survivors deserved nothing less than a service rooted in real world understanding and tangible results.”

As Thriving Survivors grew, so did its team. Ashley intentionally built a community of survivors, each bringing their own unique experiences and expertise. This wasn’t just about expanding capacity, it was about creating a space where survivors could find solidarity, strength, and shared purpose.

“Every member of our team has lived experience,” Ashley explains. “This isn’t just a job for us. It’s a mission. We understand the pain, the struggles, and the triumphs because we’ve lived them ourselves.”

A Holistic Pathway to Healing

At the core of Thriving Survivors’ mission is a holistic, four stage recovery pathway: mentoring, counselling, post-traumatic growth, and training/volunteering. This comprehensive approach ensures that survivors receive the support they need at every stage of their journey, from the depths of despair to the heights of empowerment.

“We’re not just filling gaps in existing services,” Ashley says. “We’re building a bridge to a new life filled with hope, resilience, and possibility.”

One of the organisation’s most impactful initiatives is the “Discovering Me” programme, which helps survivors rediscover their inner strength and voice. For many, this programme is a turning point. One survivor, who had endured years of domestic abuse, found solace in Thriving Survivors’ mentoring program. Through counselling and “Discovering Me,” they developed coping mechanisms, rebuilt their sense of self, and ultimately became an advocate for others.

“Witnessing these transformations is humbling,” Ashley reflects. “It’s a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of compassionate, survivor-centered support.”

Challenges and Triumphs

Building and leading Thriving Survivors has not been without its challenges. Securing funding, managing growth, and ensuring long term sustainability require constant effort. But for Ashley, the greatest challenges lie in confronting systemic issues. Thriving Survivors actively challenges the stigma surrounding trauma and advocates for increased mental health funding. This often means addressing controversial topics and pushing for services that may not be readily embraced by the public.

“We’re not afraid to question traditional approaches,” Ashley says. “We believe that pushing boundaries is essential to creating a more supportive environment for survivors.”

Despite these challenges, Thriving Survivors has made a profound impact. The organisation has transformed the lives of over 2,000 individuals, each story a testament to the power of resilience and community.

A Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Ashley is filled with a sense of purpose. Her vision for Thriving Survivors extends beyond providing services,it’s about creating a world where trauma survivors are empowered to thrive. This means expanding the organisation’s reach, developing new programmes, and deepening its people-led culture.

“Advocacy remains crucial,” Ashley emphasises. “We need to continue pushing for systemic change and ensuring that survivors’ voices are heard.”

In the coming year, Thriving Survivors will launch the SQA Customised Award “Thriving Survivors Pathway Practitioner,” expanding its global reach. The organisation will also host its annual conference, “Lived Experience Across the Globe, Part 1,” bringing together survivors and advocates from around the world.

“These initiatives reflect our commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in the field of trauma recovery,” Ashley says. “We’re just getting started.”

A Force for Change

Ashley Scotland is more than a leader—she’s a force for change. Her authenticity, resilience, and unwavering commitment to survivors have made Thriving Survivors a beacon of hope for those navigating the aftermath of trauma. Through her work, Ashley is breaking down barriers, building resilience, and empowering survivors to reclaim their lives and thrive.

I am a passionate force for change,” Ashley says. “And I won’t stop until every survivor has the support they need to heal and thrive.

In a world that often turns a blind eye to the pain of trauma, Ashley Scotland and Thriving Survivors are lighting the way forward. Their story is a powerful reminder that, even in the face of adversity, hope and healing are possible.

As one of the top coaches in the organizational development field, Monte Wyatt (CEO of AddingZEROS Executive Development) brings over 25 years of remarkable leadership, business, and personal development experience to executives and business leaders. He creates leadership and management clarity to CEOs and their executive teams through strategic thinking and execution planning.

Monte’s career began with 14 years in global agricultural chemical production; during that time, he worked in sales, sales training, sales management, and marketing management. He gained knowledge about every facet of the business, particularly the development of team members and their skill sets. With that in mind, the expert leadership coach decided to create his own organization and make an impact in many industries and executive teams. For the past 19 years, Monte has been bringing clarity to how executives lead and manage their organizations.

Furthermore, he believes that, similar to sports, a business experiences ups and downs as well as new challenges. “In sports, we call time outs to refocus and gain new momentum, which is the same in business. Every 90 days (or as frequently as needed), we call a time out and get realigned as an executive and an organization,” says Monte.

During this process, Monte and his clients determine the appropriate short-term priorities and ensure they are connected to the organization’s yearly and long-term priorities. This quarterly planning day method has a significant positive impact on team accountability, engagement, and alignment.

A Global Executive and Organizational Development Firm

AddingZEROS is a global Executive and Organizational Development firm with facilitators located around the world. Monte and his team help CEOs and executive teams with Strategic Thinking and Execution Planning. This includes organizational discipline and strategic planning with executive coaching and development.

The firm focuses on growing revenue and profits while adding zeros in every aspect of an organization: engagement, culture, employee and customer acquisition and retention, and community involvement. Its process creates organizational discipline in the areas of Strategy, Business Development, People, Execution, and Mission.

Find The Right Coach

 According to Monte, a great coach offers four things: Awareness, Education, Implementation, and Discipline, which are essential for achieving both personal and business growth. “Awareness helps you see things that you cannot see on your own; we all have blind spots. Education is about bringing knowledge and skills in every area of business and personal growth, from strategic planning to sales and marketing, to communication and relationships, and everywhere in between. Implementation focuses on how new actions can work for you and your organization. There is no silver bullet or cookie-cutter approach. Discipline ensures that follow-through and accountability occur. Without action, we only have words,” says Monte.

Coaching Impact on Client’s Businesses

The CEO and executive team who are passionate about teamwork and self-investment, motivated by a great future vision, and prepared for an excellent journey are the core customers of AddingZEROS. Its clients range from 50 employees to thousands of employees. The impact and results Monte and his team have assisted their clients in achieving range from increasing workforce size with increased profitability to fostering cultures of more teamwork and personal accountability. Each client has specific areas to improve, opportunities, and goals. Their process personalizes the focused disciplines in order to obtain the desired results.

The Current Industry Scenario

“Over the past 24 months, the world has experienced the Great Resignation, Quiet Quitting, Lying Flat, Quiet Firing, and a potential Great Recession in our future,” says Monte. These are all seemingly new terms but not new scenarios. Organizations must forge a stronger emotional bond with their employees and the company’s future in order to meet these global challenges.

People will quit if there is no emotional connection because they will no longer be enthusiastic about the organization, its direction, its culture, or their jobs. Every business has room for improvement; the key questions are 1) do they want to change, and 2) are they willing to access outside assistance?

Key Qualities That Every CEO and Executive Should Have

When leaders solely prioritize productivity, their employees become dissatisfied, less engaged, and start seeking new positions. Therefore, a successful business is one that is sustainable, predictable, stable, consistent, and has an emotional connection. As a CEO or executive, leaders must constantly be working toward this definition.

“In working towards building a successful business, there are three attributes that I believe are critical. First, you must be an abundant thinker. An abundant thinker approaches challenges and opportunities with a ‘how can we’ mindset. A scarcity mindset says, ‘we can’t or ‘it’s not possible.’ Without abundant thinking, a team will continue to hit roadblocks and struggle,” explains Monte.

He adds, “A second critical attribute is asking more than telling. One of the main roles of an executive is to teach others how to think. If you are the only one who makes decisions or thinks creatively, your long-term success will be limited. The final attribute that I will share is big-picture thinking. When I think of the big picture, I see that everything is connected. Every decision impacts everyone and every department. As a CEO or executive, you are responsible for not only the company but everyone involved. Seeing the big picture helps you see farther and more than others.”

Future Roadmap 

AddingZEROS CEO Monte has a 10-year vision to impact 1 million executives around the world. He wants to assist them in developing into great leaders, thinkers, and doers. The expert leadership coach has started a global podcast called “What’s Your Ceiling?” in addition to his one-on-one and team relationships with clients.

The goal of his podcast is to assist listeners in overcoming obstacles and challenges. Executives have an incredible influence on growing people and their behaviors. The world is a better place with Monte and his AddingZEROS team working with CEOs and executives.

Words of Wisdom

Being an award-winning executive leadership coach and entrepreneur, Monte shares some advice, “The number one need I see in organizations and executives is the ability to communicate clearly. Communication is a challenge that I hear from every business at every level. A critical business move is to learn how to communicate clearly with timeliness by understanding your audience and taking ownership of how others understand your message. Too often, we blame our audience for not understanding. It is important for executives to learn this skill.”

Candidate identification and assessment continue to necessitate a thorough understanding of functional expertise and now frequently require administering case studies, personality and leadership assessments, and role-playing via the utilization of a wide range of tools. Excellence in service requires a significant amount of time and effort in the candidate selection process. One such firm that has been delivering excellence in service for the past two decades is MJR Resources, Inc.

Founded in 2001 by Michelle Robertson (CEO and President), MJR Resources is a boutique recruiting firm specializing in curating relationships to facilitate executive-level placement in the areas of accounting, finance, IT, marketing, sales, and human resources. It specializes in the search to meet the specific and unique needs of each client. The firm’s top priority is to listen to and understand the needs and desires of the candidate, as well as the client, to help establish a long-term career and culture fit for both parties.

The Notion Behind The Establishment Of MJR Resources

Life is very unpredictable. You never know when the next high or low will strike you. However, with determination, passion, dedication, and commitment, you can overcome life’s challenges. The same can be said for Michelle. Recalling the past, she said, “I was introduced to recruiting early in my career through working at KPMG. I left the firm to pursue a career in executive search due to an unexpected illness with my oldest son and the need to be off the road. I joined a search firm based in Houston and was hired to run the Dallas office until 2001, when MJR was founded.”

Since then, the business has grown and evolved. Now, 20 years later, Michelle and her firm MJR Resources, have been serving clients and candidates around the country. Many current clients have been with the firm since the inception of the business. “Relationships are of significant importance to me, and serving people well is how we demonstrate the value we place on the relationship,” says Michelle.

Discovering And Matching The Right Candidate With The Right Role

MJR Resources regards search as an art form rather than a rigid technological method. This unique viewpoint is further emphasized by its brand, “Executive Search, By Design”. The firm collaborates with owners, CEOs, investors, and their teams to offer services that support a client’s strategy and growth goals. MJR works to help protect and expand client companies’ intellectual capacity by discovering and matching high-performing individuals. This leading recruiting firm has been successful because of its Relationship Recruiting Model, which allows it to bring essential aspects of its clients’ history, culture, vision, and core beliefs, matching them with exceptional candidates who align and fill a unique void.

The seasoned shepreneur, Michelle, and her team combine these components with the experiences, accomplishments, and aspirations of top candidates to create a vivid and compelling picture of a collective goal, successful outcomes, and mutual success.

When MJR Resources first started out, it was a boutique agency that focused solely on accounting and finance search. The Texas-based firm has now developed into an executive search firm that specializes in marketing, IT, human resources, accounting, and finance, placing searches across the US and abroad. In order to make sure that human capital resources are addressed on an ongoing basis, the firm acts as a trusted advisor to customers across functional areas and sectors.

“Our goal is always the same, to truly know our clients and what they need in order for their vision to become a reality. The same aim is true when we identify a candidate. We spend time getting to know the individual, where they have been, what they have accomplished and what they hope to achieve in the future. We place significant priority on both the client and the candidate relationship,” says Michelle.

CEO’s Source Of Motivation

For each individual, the source of motivation is different. Similarly, for Michelle, it is all about helping individuals develop and change. She wants clients and candidates to feel seen and heard during conversations with her and the team, and she wants them to feel like what they say matters in the work they do every day. Furthermore, the team true to who they are and what they do best: Focus On The Relationship and Listen, Learn, and Serve.

The Impact Of COVID-19 Pandemic On The Staffing And Recruiting Industry

Although the pandemic presented many significant challenges, it also positively affected the recruiting industry. From a challenge standpoint, “work from home” mandates proved valuable and fruitful for some, while causing others to feel isolated and disconnected from their colleagues and companies. The desire and willingness on the part of potential candidates to make a move waned, and the demand for remote-only work has increased since COVID.

These challenges have made it difficult for businesses to fill employment gaps and consistently have the human resources needed to provide products and services. Many young professionals who entered employment during and after the pandemic also haven’t had the opportunity to operate as a team or get insight from seeing the social norms of management and leadership around the conference table.

Companies will struggle to retain potential talent and ensure what talent they have is equipped to lead in the future unless they provide constant and purposeful training and onboarding, exposure to mentors, and regular access to seasoned management. One of the positive changes forced by the COVID-19 pandemic is the need for implementing more virtual and real-time technology tools. Artificial intelligence (AI), virtual meeting tools, remote onboarding, and online interviews have all improved the effectiveness and efficiency of the hiring process.

Future Roadmap

Entrepreneurs start their businesses with the goal of becoming successful. However, having a fantastic idea alone is not enough. A long-term roadmap with relevant business milestones is required. As the CEO of a leading recruitment firm, Michelle has set milestones for MJR Resources. Under her exemplary leadership and guidance, the firm’s unchanging goal since its inception in 2001 is to provide exceptional service to the clients and the candidates it represents, Michelle also prioritizes mentorship to up-and-coming recruiters, sharing that “Developing and equipping the next generation of professional recruiters is also something that inspires me.”

Advice To The Budding Entrepreneurs

As a successful female entrepreneur who has been in business for the past two decades, Michelle gave her advice to budding entrepreneurs. She says, “Never lose your thirst for learning. We have an opportunity to learn something impactful and meet someone extraordinary every day. Don’t miss the chance by being too focused on what needs to be accomplished.”

One-Word Or One-Sentence Description

When asked to describe herself in one word or one sentence, Michelle said three significant words, which are very important for her, “Passionate About People. Connecting with people and forming meaningful relationships comes as a natural byproduct of her desire to foster transformation and growth within the people” she invests.

Analysts in the staffing sector predict that during the next six years, the worldwide healthcare staffing market will increase to over $49 billion. The aging population is growing, and the healthcare environment is changing as a result of the global COVID-19 impact, just two of the many variables that continue to have an impact on the growth of the staffing industry.

Because of the increasing demand for professionals in the medical and pharma industries, many organizations are looking for alternative workforce staffing solutions as a cost-effective way of hiring specialist workers.

Rep-Lite is an innovative on-demand medical sales talent support firm that specializes in providing the pharmaceutical, medical, and surgical industries with customized contract salesforce solutions. Its revolutionary talent management model enables organizations to rapidly establish and scale highly competent sales teams with fewer risks and at much lower costs.

The firm provides a diverse range of talent to its clients based on their particular needs. And, it is adopting an out-of-the-box style of thinking when it comes to recruiting. Additionally, its results-proven contract model has altered the hiring processes of industry giants, including ZOLL, Olympus, Stryker, ConMed, Zimmer Biomet, Boston Scientific, and many more.

The leading staffing solution provider Rep-Lite provides personnel for a variety of professions, including sales representatives, associate sales representatives, clinical specialists, field service technicians, product launch specialists, and more. It works directly with manufacturers in every sector of the medical industry.

Under the guidance and exemplary leadership of Rick Barnett (Founder), Rep-Lite has achieved 20+% growth YOY for the past ten years. And the firm continues to grow and expand by overcoming every challenge and leveraging opportunities.

Meet The Mastermind Behind Rep-Lite’s Success And Growth

Rick Barnett currently heads Rep-Lite as its Founder. He is in charge of leading a process of strategic development that enables manufacturers to achieve maximum potential with limited resources. He initiated and implemented this approach to allow multiple manufacturers to enjoy exponential development within the divisions to which it was applied.

By drawing on his distinctive perspective, Rick created the Rep-Lite contract solution to address the specific issues that medical companies encounter. He has spent decades honing the contract talent management model, leading multiple manufacturers to exponential growth, massive hiring process improvements, and significant decreases in operational costs.

Prior to this, the versatile leader held numerous senior medical executive positions within the medical device arena. Rick is a performance-driven sales leadership executive who specializes in cultivating client connections, creating and putting into practice effective sales tactics, and choosing and training top-notch teams. Presently, he is regarded as a leader with a track record of developing fruitful business development initiatives, maximizing key competencies, and profiting from strong customer relationships.

The dynamic entrepreneur holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Hawaii. Over the last 25 years, Rick has built businesses with companies such as Stryker and Intuitive Surgical. He is a visionary who commonly recognizes “outside the box” opportunities while driving the current business to surpass established goals which has allowed him to function in a consulting capacity for several top industry leaders.

Providing Valuable Benefits To Clients

The seasoned professional, Rick along with his team, are constantly responding to the needs of their clients. The needs of clients drive their activity. So, by employing their talent pool resources as a plug-and-play solution to reduce open jobs, the clients increase front-line revenues. His firm, Rep-Lite lowers costs, relieves the stress of maintaining headcount, and hastens the employment of driven professionals.

Hence, Rep-Lite has become their preferred choice. The clients enjoy various benefits offered by it, which include: ready candidates, a broad on-demand talent pipeline, a 50 – 70% reduction in the cost of attrition, preservation of executive time and resources, and a 96% conversion rate from Rep-Lite to the client. Rick proudly asserts, “We help our clients to build and scale their teams with  Fewer risks, Saving time, and Saving money. Our model offers a new age, unique process in which our clients have much more flexibility and efficiencies than ever before.”

As risk, expectations, and competition continue to rise, the firm is dedicated to setting the standard for the provision of outsourced talent to its sector. It has the solutions which clients require, whether it is an expert team or vendor support. Although there are many hiring and recruiting companies that serve the medical and pharmaceutical industries, relatively few of them adopt both methods for a hybrid strategy. This makes Rep-Lite stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Rep-Lite Founder’s Source Of Motivation

Each entrepreneur’s journey to starting their business is unique. There is no “one size fits all” idea or approach that can be used by everybody who wants to start their own business. But some peculiar things really do matter when it comes to motivating and driving people to start their own businesses.

Here, Rick replies when asked to share his source of motivation, “It is our driving mission to help candidates find amazing careers for themselves and their families while driving market share for our clients.”

Facing Challenges Head-on

Every entrepreneur has to face numerous challenges when building his business or company. Similarly, Rick has encountered many challenges as well. He says that their model is unique, requiring them to continually educate their clients and the candidates.

The Current Industry Scenario

Being a seasoned professional in the medical device arena, Rick has observed that finding the right people to join the organizations is just one part of the battle. The growing talent shortages in these industries have placed companies under increasing pressure in the last few years. Hence, it is more than important for the medical and pharmaceutical industries to keep looking for different ways to improve how they attract and keep talent.

Although change is difficult, it is necessary for the future. Understanding how to retain their existing and future talent could be the key to running their businesses smoothly. Plus, they can lure talent through different perks such as offering a positive culture, competitive wages, and benefits, promoting a healthy work-life balance, recognizing employees for their work, and establishing clear advancement opportunities.

Set Key Milestones

Every company sets milestones to achieve them. Similarly, Rick’s firm, Rep-Lite has set milestones to attain it. The firm wants to keep growing by being a wonderful servant partner for its clients. It is aware that when its clients’ needs evolve, it must change along with them in order to remain relevant.

A Special Advise To The Budding Entrepreneurs

As the Founder of a leading staffing solutions providing firm, Rick gave advice to budding entrepreneurs. He says, “Never give up! Be tenacious! Make sure you serve your customer well.”

One-Word Or One-Sentence Description

When asked to describe himself in one word or one sentence, Rick replies that he is the best combination of “Believer, husband, father, servant leader, persistent.”

Paul joined A&M in 2006 to co-found the firm’s Transaction Advisory Group, which he leads globally today. he was recruited to diversify A&M from its heritage as a boutique turnaround, crisis management and restructuring firm. He was tasked to develop the firm’s capability to serve private equity and other clients in the global M&A ecosystem. Today, this private equity business is the largest in the global firm, and the division that he leads has almost 600 professionals across 25 offices in 14 countries and growing.

The Journey

Paul is the first person in his family to go to college as well as become a professional. he started working several jobs when he was 13 years’ old such as delivering newspapers, a sneaker salesman at a local sporting goods store, valet parking attendant at local country clubs and ultimately mowing lawns to the point where he builds his own landscaping business in high school that he sold to a local landscaper when he went away to college.

Paul started his career as a CPA in the Big Four, Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young. he was selected to start that firm’s new Transaction Services practice; and he was the youngest professional in the group at that time. Upon Arthur Andersen’s collapse, he brought his team to EY where he continued to grow the business until ultimately leaving to start a competing business at A&M.

Following is the highlight of the Interview between Paul and The Tycoon Magazine.

Describe in detail about your company and its unique services.

A&M is a global professional services firm that essentially serves three large constituents as clients: (i) the restructuring, turnaround and crisis management community, (i) Corporates (the Fortune 1000), and (iii) private equity and the M&A ecosystem. We offer a lot of different services for this diverse set of clients, but the common theme is that we are tactical in our approach and focus on providing leadership, action and results.

How do you diversify your organization’s offerings to appeal to the target audience?

A&M offers a very broad mandate to help our clients be successful investors. Accordingly, our role is to integrate all of the firm’s offerings into a suite of services provided by the private equity channel. In today’s environment, clients value this unique approach as it offers a better, more wholistic viewpoint much more efficiently.

How do you strategize your game plans to tackle competition in the market?

I keep an eye on the competition, but the competition is not the focus. We play our own game and to our strengths as a practice and a firm. I focus on what matters and give clients a compelling “why” we are better than the competition. I also cultivate deep relationships with clients, which I know they value. If you do these things effectively, then what the competition does really doesn’t matter.

State us your major achievements and your company’s achievements under your leadership.

Besides building a global practice from scratch in the last 15 years, which is now a market leader, the overall A&M firm, of which I am a part of senior leadership. The firm has grown almost 10 fold in both headcount and revenue during that same period. All of this has been through organic growth, winning clients – we have never acquired another company.  Additionally, in navigating global geopolitical events, such as the financial crisis and now COVID-19 Pandemic, we have grown throughout both these periods. During the firm’s 38-year history, A&M has never had layoffs.  It is something we as a firm are philosophically opposed to and are very proud of our record.

Brief us about the current industry scenario from your perspective.

The global private equity and M&A market is more robust than ever. There is tremendous capital in the system that is looking for alpha and needing to be deployed. On top of this, record low interest rates, and record high public equity markets. More broadly, the global economy will enter a period of growth coming out of the pandemic and fueled by government stimulus and consumer spending. I believe all of this volatility will continue to create tremendous opportunity.

What were the primal challenges and roadblocks you faced during the initial phase of your career as an entrepreneur?

You don’t know what you don’t know but looking back now: Self-doubt for sure, people and firms that will try to limit your ambitions or tell you that it can’t be done. There is always someone smarter than you, but I never led anyone outwork me.

Where do you see yourself in the near future and what are your future goals?

My long-term vision has always been to build a successful global practice. There is still a lot of work to be done even after 15 years. You have to stay on top of all the changes in the market and keep your finger on the pulse of the practice. You also need to look down the road for several years for both challenges that could derail you as well as opportunities that others may not see. Accordingly, in the business that I lead there is still so much more opportunity to grow and serve larger and more complex clients. As a result, I am more excited for the opportunities I see today than I was even in starting the business 15 years ago.

Describe some of the vital attributes that every entrepreneur should possess.

A positive attitude and a willingness to learn. An appropriate level of self-confidence in your own abilities, to the point where you are willing and comfortable to bet on yourself, but not overly self-confident where you are viewed as arrogant and a rascal. Constantly think and act like an owner. Allow for light bureaucracy and administrative burden. Have a fire in the belly to do what needs to get done to be successful over the long term. Grit. Passion and perseverance to achieve long-term goals. And never compromise ethics and integrity.

In her current role as Vice President for People & Communities at Cisco Systems, she’s committed to building inclusive, mission-driven teams where no voice is left unheard. All of which is continuing the commitment that led her to be named a “Top 100 Women of Influence in the Bay Area” in 2017.

 An exceptional professional voyage

Puja’s educational journey led her to the University of Cincinnati, where she earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, with honors, and on to Harvard Business School, where she completed an MBA. She started her professional career at Procter and Gamble (P&G) handling high-end brand management roles and P&L responsibilities, while also gaining HR experience steering the Asian retention task force.

In 2008, she joined Google’s People Operations team and became Marissa Mayer’s HR business partner for product management and Sundar Pichai’s HR business partner for engineering and products, which included work on Chrome and other key apps. She also served as the Director of HR Strategic Planning for Motorola Mobility during its acquisition by Google.

In 2014, Puja joined Visa as a Senior Vice President, leading HR for the Global Technology division and handled people transformation, enhanced diversity and inclusion (D&I). While there, she decreased costs and encouraged innovation, which contributed to tripling the company’s market capitalization.

I have a strong sense of responsibility and purpose, invest in my relationships, and look for common goals.  I build mission-driven, inclusive teams, where everyone’s voice is heard. I create an environment of trust and safety, which encourages taking risks.  I help people achieve their career goals.

Today, Puja shines as Vice President for People & Communities at Cisco Systems, where she leads the talent strategy to transform Engineering and Corporate Functions. Her key responsibilities include designing for the workforce of the future, while reimagining talent management, succession planning, and D&I outcomes. During her time at Cisco, the company placed No. 1 in Fortune’s World’s Best Workplaces list for two years in a row.

Puja proudly stands amongst the board of directors at Leadershape, Inc. and serves as the HR Advisor for SemperVirens Venture Capital.

Cisco – defining a one-of-a-kind legacy

Headquartered in San Jose, CA, Cisco has been helping customers to successfully connect, secure, and automate for more than 35 years now. With a global presence of 77,000 people across 100 countries, the company is effectively connecting people through cutting-edge networking hardware, software, and telecommunications equipment for a cloud-first world.

With its enterprise-grade collaboration tools and industry-defining networking and compute technology, Cisco continues to make a lasting impact around the world. With a combination of trust, innovation, and choice — backed by an intuitive culture, mission, and people — Cisco leads in technology and corporate social responsibility. Transparency, authenticity, and empathy are the cornerstones that help the company in serving 98 percent of Fortune 500 companies.

Choice is a strategic imperative at Cisco. The company has positively impacted 527 million people through its social impact grants and signature programs like Network Academy and is on course to reach its goal of 1 billion people by 2025. Under Puja’s guidance, the company is concentrating on overcoming the current pandemic while helping people rise to an ever-better “next normal.”

“I am excited to help shape Cisco’s transformation and our leaders’ transformation,” Puja said. “One of the goals I am most passionate about is to lead the tech industry in hiring and retaining diverse talent and creating a culture of inclusion and belonging.”

Larger than Life Experiences

From a girl who considered changing schools after her first year at the University of Cincinnati (UC) to defining transformation capabilities at Cisco, Puja has come a long way.

Here are a few qualities that helped make her a personal success and a change agent for others.

Made lemonade from lemons – Puja overcame her doubts about UC by stretching into campus leadership roles. Her experiences as a student senator for the college of engineering, Co-op/internship ambassador between UC and GE Aviation, and student body vice president and president honed her leadership capabilities. And these experiences unlocked doors P&G as an undergraduate and led her towards brand management.

Developed a multi-faceted personality – Transitioning from an engineering student to a career in marketing at P&G was not easy. But as she focused on learning marketing, she also discovered her passion for the people function and soon shifted towards human resources.

Confidence is key – Puja chose an MBA over her job as a marketer when her father wanted her to get married. Her colleague thought that she would have a hard time getting into a top MBA program until she got admission into Harvard Business School.

Followed her convictions – Everyone said Harvard MBAs don’t go into human resources. But Puja became an intern at Deloitte in their human capital consulting practice. From there, she joined the Corporate Executive Board as an HR research consultant.

Never has regrets – Leaving Google to join Visa was a tough decision, but she never looked back. In the end, she acknowledged that her core purpose is to continue growing and helping others.

Advice for life

Puja is thankful for the ongoing support of her husband Nimesh. “Pick your life partner wisely,” she advises, “as it will determine your accomplishments in life.”

But Puja believes that “you are the creator of your destiny.” Asking for help and advice from mentors will help, but it’s your own commitment that moves mountains. She advises the young to be ambitious and embrace the power of the community as a whole.

In the end, she believes that following your instincts and giving back to society will lead to the best kind of success.

This excerpt exemplifies the endeavors of one such persona who is embracing the immune system’s imperative properties and harnessing those to fight cancer. Meet Dr. Xiaokui Zhang, the Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Celularity Inc.

Her educational journey has seen her completing B.Sc. in Physiology from Nanjing University and a Ph.D. in Molecular Cell Biology from Rockefeller University. She has also attained post-doctoral training in the Functional Genomics Department of Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

It was 2003 when her professional career took a flight to lead a discovery team at Helicon Therapeutics alongside conducting target identification studies in cognitive disorders for three years. Further, from 2006 to 2017, Xiaokui stirred various high-end profiles at Celgene Cellular Therapeutics, including Director of Discovery Research and Senior Director of Research & Development. The span was driven by the development of novel immunotherapy candidates derived from placental progenitor cells and initiated clinical trials.

Altogether, from being a passionate scientist to a proud mother and wife, Xiaokui has kept no stone unturned in exploring aspects from all walks of life.

About Celularity Inc.

Founded in 2017, Celularity Inc. is a next-gen biotechnology company leading the evolution in cellular medicine by delivering off-the-shelf allogeneic cellular therapies, at an unparalleled scale, quality, and economics. A spinout of Celgene Corporation, Celularity’s innovative approach to cell therapy unlocks the unique therapeutic potential within the cells of the post-partum placenta.

Under Xiaokui’s aegis, the company is transforming the cellular medicine realm with Placental-derived T cells, Natural Killer (NK) cells, and Pluripotent Stem cells. These efforts are satisfying the unmet clinical requirements for cancer, infectious, and degenerative diseases. Out of which, NK cell therapy is going through an investigation for the treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Multiple Myeloma (MM), Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), and COVID-19.

Talking about the company Xiaokui says, “We strive to ensure the scientific rigor in daily research and development activities to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms and pathways that regulate the immune system’s response to cancer”.

The company integrates deep-seated collaboration to accelerate product & clinical development, translational research, and cell manufacturing. It’s putting its best foot forward in bringing cell therapy to the center stage of cancer immunotherapy and functional regeneration medicine.

Significant Bits of Motivation

As a teenager, Xiaokui was captivated by the persistence and characteristic optimism of Jane Goodall’s ‘In the Shadow of Man’. It’s the exploration, discovery, and unraveling of unknowns of the book that inspired her to strive for the wellbeing of the living. It prompted her to start an educational voyage in the earlier mentioned fields and understand the mechanisms underlying human body function to the core. Her mom, who was one of the few female leaders in universities, was also particularly strong influence in her life. “It was her support and her believe in me that helped me be where I am at today,” Xiaokui said.

Another vesicle of motivation is the opportunity and guidance provided by Dr. Robert Hariri, MD, Ph.D., the Founder & CEO of Celularity. His vision to develop placenta-derived cell therapies and biomaterial products that transform cell therapy and personalized medicine completely resonates with Xiaokui’s thoughts.

It is crucial to understand what you want to do, where you want to reach and to define the goals for your career. While you focus on those goals and follow the path forward, remember you are not alone and that you don’t have to fight your battles on your own.

She developed a passion for quality patient care and the capabilities to align personal aspirations with the company goals through this league. Xiaokui is overwhelmed to be a scientist in an organization driven by a talented group of women who inspire her to be the best version of herself.

Today, these motivational pieces help her in discovering effective cell therapy for treating debilitating diseases and improving patient lives.

The Vortex of Challenges to Overcome  

The current digital age has witnessed major advancements across basic and medical research that have resulted in the successful application of immunotherapy for cancer. Examining and understanding the science and translating that potential into the clinic has been the center of all. Besides, innovations in science and bioengineering are being rapidly integrated to build robust technology platforms thereby, improving the lives of patients.

In 2013, Science magazine deemed cancer immunotherapy as the ‘Breakthrough of the Year’. In 2017, Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enter the practice of medicine for the treatment of Leukemia and Lymphoma.

Despite these advancements, Xiaokui sensed some major challenges whirling amid the field of cancer immunotherapy:

• Establishing an effective end-to-end supply chain for cell therapy
• Key biomarkers to predict treatment efficacy and patient response
• On-demand availability of effective therapy
• Making treatments competitive

Acknowledging this scenario, she channelized all her thinking capabilities to generate a readily available, safe, and efficacious therapy framework, at Celularity. Currently, Xiaokui along with her innovation-driven pool of professional scientists and bioengineers are consistently engineering effective patient-centric solutions.

With such vitality at the helm, they have successfully managed to overcome the mentioned challenges with their exhaustive R&D and are delivering transformational changes for more than three years now.

Keeping a futuristic approach at the forefront Xiaokui says, “My passion is to build and grow teams while continuing to develop and advance therapies that improve patients’ lives. I will continue my endeavors in cell therapy and immunotherapy, working collaboratively with others to deliver truly innovative and life-changing therapies for patients.”

Xiaokui’s Take on Making a ‘Difference as a Women’  

More women in leadership roles is correlated with stronger financial returns and better business outcomes in the corporate world, says independent research. However, women are still underrepresented in executive, decision-making roles and are judged unfairly as a leader who can make a difference. Their confidence is undermined by gender stereotypes, by which, efforts to constantly prove their leadership capabilities never go out of sight.

To outcast such situations, Xiaokui says, “Women should maintain self-confidence, talk openly about their accomplishments to get noticed and go after what they want fearlessly. Also, having talent development programs, coaching, and mentoring programs can make sure that women are effectively empowered in various roles.”

She believes that a successful woman has the potential to take on more responsibilities and accepts the challenge of attaining equilibrium across personal and professional life. These conditions can be better managed by establishing a strategic and realistic career and personal goals followed by communicating with those who can help achieve these goals.

Xiaokui also believes that glass ceilings are real barriers that women should be aware of and then break in the mind. This act provides strength and assurance to work out strategic plans. Concretely, a woman needs to stay focused, manage priority and conflict, and allow flexibility in scheduling to create a prominent niche and gain a competitive edge.

A Note to Remember

“It is crucial to understand what you want to do, where you want to reach, and to define the goals for your career. While you focus on those goals and follow the path forward, remember you are not alone and that you don’t have to fight your battles on your own,” states Xiaokui.

“Build networks and mentorships to ensure that you are supported and empowered, identify skills that should be developed or improved upon, take the initiatives to increase your visibility, then drive your career development with full confidence and determination,” she states further.

Mentorship in R&D within an academic setting proves effective for a mentee’s development of skills, capabilities, and a career path. As such, it’s necessary to proactively build mentor-mentee networks to unlock countless career opportunities in the longer run.

Yet, like an uncontainable blaze, COVID-19 set More to those plans whilst torching through all major industries and the livelihoods of businesses & the people who depend on them. For Lisa, it symbolized a critical inflection point in her entrepreneurial, career – should she take a much-needed break to see what unfolded in the world whilst spending time at home with her husband and 3 children? Or should she bring out the whiteboard, devise a new strategy, commit to ensuring her supply chain was protected, and be launch- some-day-ready with limited funds to spend in an uncertain, unprecedented future? If you picked the last one, you are correct. Except add to the mix: launching a brand new protective fashion brand, a social-impact-focused investment group, and an umbrella company as the parenthesis encompassing all brands, named after her Father.

The Genesis

Prior to founding Nom Noms World Food, Lisa was in the Medical Devices industry where she spent 18 years as an International Director of Medical Devices, managing 47 countries, and traveling around the world all the time – at the oddest of hours. Lisa states that she was fortunate to travel to many destinations through her work in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. During her experience, she saw many children suffer malnutrition and were constantly fighting for their lives. They would only go to school because they were guaranteed a meal and would walk miles to do so. With 3 young children of her own, it was heart-breaking to see.

Coming back to North America and seeing the opposite – that kids were consuming junk food by the second –which motivated her further to transform the way our younger generations eat so that they can live longer, healthier lives, whilst helping to change the lives of those in need. Working with dieticians and food experts, alongside her husband, Dr. Imrat Sohanpal, Lisa devised recipes for real food, made free from harmful properties with the invaluable bonus of not requiring preparation, cooking, or washing up whatsoever. With an ambition to diversify the palate of consumers around the world, her products strive to re-create the authentic flavors from their global culinary experiences and thus, Nom Noms World Food was born.

About Nom Noms World Food

Nom Noms World Food crafts, mouth-watering world cuisine that is ready to heat and eat in seconds. Think delicious, exotic meals, and high protein hot wraps, fully cooked and full of flavor – no grocery shopping, no preparation, and no cooking necessary. All 100% locally made without any nasties or processing, pre-packaged to cut human interaction, and deliver convenience at its best. Nom Noms believes that solving world hunger should be as easy as eating. So for every purchase, they feed hungry children in need to keep them off the streets and in school to gain an education. Using advanced technology innovations, Nom Noms is disrupting the convenience, economy with unprecedented shelf-life in fresh and frozen, whilst enabling people to measure their impact end to end.

Finally, visual creators from around the world will design and deliver unique localized experiences to your mobile device, through their world’s first Experience-Sharing platform.

Challenges faced and Achievements

Nom Noms World Food has received over 42 awards spanning across product innovation, packaging, concept, and entrepreneurship. More recently, these include the prestigious 2019 Telus Pitch Multicultural Business of the Year award and Winning the Startup World Cup 2020 New York Regional, putting them in a position to now win the Start-Up World Cup in 2021. Also, Nom Noms World Food was hand-picked by the British Royal Family, as a notable brand to be included in the “Our Royal Baby” commemorative book, to celebrate the birth of Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

But the journey was not easy. One of the biggest hurdles Lisa faced was getting funded, as it is near impossible for women to break through the unchanged history of funding challenges. Currently, only 3% of women-owned businesses get investment – it’s mind-boggling and cannot be ignored. Breaking this barrier was something that she always held close to her chest, and she wants to educate and inspire fellow female entrepreneurs to do the same.

Resilient is the word Lisa believes best describes her. With the number of bizarre things that she had faced has taken her resilience to a level she didn’t even know existed. She simply doesn’t think there is anything she cannot bounce back from. For those starting up, she recommends working out contingency plans ahead of time. Always have several backup options for all areas of your business, always! To those seeking funding, she says “Never give up on your dreams and continue to work hard to bring your vision to reality. Keep persevering especially when others doubt you. No one will Gght for your business more than you and when the timing is right, doors will not only open, they will have an elevator to take you straight to your dreams.”.

Source of Motivation

Growing up as the eldest of 4 children in an Indian family new to pre-multicultural Australia had instilled an undying sense of responsibility, to challenge cultural norms, and to help the family succeed in an environment seemingly working against them. Her Father’s inspiring story, one relatable to many immigrant parents, drove Lisa to empowerment, breaking through glass ceilings throughout male-dominated working environments, and rising to the top of her field. “No one would want to do business with Dad because of his ethnicity, so he got creative and changed his name to Bob Berkly to get through to them over the phone. Once they met him, they were ‘rudely’ surprised that he was a sensational businessman, and when he got through the door, it was a done deal. Most would say he changed in the environment, but we (his children) saw it as a master class in adapting to your environment to succeed. And well, ‘adapt or die, as they say!”, described Lisa.

Fast-forwarding to 2020, this tenacity to do whatever it takes stood with her after years of external doubt. She draws on years in resilience and Handing solutions to some of the most unfathomable of problems and adapted to the environment as her Dad would, Hnding creative ways to fund her business whilst being driven to create brands that would change the fortunes and the future of the world’s most impoverished. The birth of the Berkeley Group is a testament to the values she holds true to this day, which now has two brands under its belt – Nom Noms and mix technologies (a wellness-focused protective fashion brand) – to further her vision in making serious, long-lasting change.

Future perspective

As for Nom Noms; the biggest goal right now is to give access to their food for millions of people around the world, and they are excited to be launching and partnering with the likes of Walmart, Emirates Flight Catering, Costco, and more. They are ambitious and with all these products sold, they hope to donate 10,000,000 meals to children in need. More products sold means more mouths fed, and that motivates her to grow the business to astronomical heights. They have a vision for technology to disrupt the future of food and are in the process of enabling consumers to measure and track their impact on the children in need, be rewarded for it, and create content connecting them to local experiences from global curators.

Comments on the current industry scenario

When The Tycoon Magazine contacted and asked Lisa about her perspective on the current scenario and Impact of COVID 19 on the ready food industry, she said, “The current Economic and COVID-19 health situation globally has led people to drastically change their grocery and dining habits. Consumers are cooking more, and more often with more mouths to feed, which is taking up more time. Plans to travel and experience different cultures have halted indefinitely. People cannot go out to eat an authentic meal and instead must try to make it at home. Grocery store visits should only happen if essential and ingredient availability has become a game of chance.

The desire to enjoy world cuisine remains high yet caution prevails when ordering through limited restaurants available. That too has become more of a luxury in today’s economic climate, and consumers are choosing not to take that chance, due to the element of human interaction on made-to-order food. What remains true from before all of this happened is that food brands need to cater to what we call, the convenience economy. So to succeed in today’s Food & FMCG landscape, brands need to 9ne-tune their empathy skills and deliver experiences that bring the lost joys of good food, social interaction, and travel, back home. Traditional methods of distribution cannot cater to consumer’s needs fast enough, so brands need to be agile and be accessible in more ways than one. Ultimately, new lifestyles are here to stay, and brands need to be more creative and forward-thinking with regards to how to leverage the current landscape of food.”

Advice to budding entrepreneurs

Lisa advises those who are entering into the world of entrepreneurship to learn not only how to stay the course, but create their own along the way, whilst being guided by a blend of logic and gut feel. “Mind matters, but your gut knows you better, trust it. There’s nothing worse than having regrets of giving up on your vision too early. It will take time, the days will seem extra-long and there will be many sleepless nights. Believe that the answers are out there waiting, believe that life will surprise you again and again. Believe that the journey is the destination, believe you are the greatest project you will ever work on, believe that you can and will make it happen.”

Her story is truly an inspirational one, as with her sheer aspiration to destroy malnutrition, hunger and transform the way our younger generations eat, she is creating a positive impact on the world and revolutionizing convenience food, one Nom Noms at a time.

Started my career as a teenager who couldn’t wait to work, but it was so hard to get a chance. That’s what I remember clearly, I got rejected time after time due to not having experience, but I thought how can I have previous experience if I’m only 17 years old? The first half of my career was super tough, taking low salaries, working a lot, and then I got my big break. I started a role at Dow Jones and worked in the Venture Capital & Private Equity team and that was amazing. I was able to transfer my skills to a new industry and the learning curve was steep. To this day I remain grateful to my amazing management team – Guido Schenk, Robert Hughes & Bill Yong. They were incredibly supportive leaders and gave me the opportunity I longed for. I wish more Managers were as empowering as they were if you’re reading this. THANK YOU.

Source of motivation

I have seen the place I was born in and opportunities are limited and people are in poverty. Thanks to my grandad and dad getting a job in the UK, our lives changed forever. This was not just a job to them, it was a lifeline, and thanks to this, generations have been changed. Not everyone is lucky to get an opportunity, so my job is to create these chances for others and give back and create dignified work and health. Technology has the ability to create scalable equality in society.

Challenges faced withstanding the complexities of the industry.

Where do I start? There have been so many and continue to be. Being a woman leader in tech from the Middle East is harder than I thought. At some point, you talk to investors and that’s a mainly a male dominated world (globally, not just in the region). I don’t fit the idea of what an entrepreneur looks like, throw a couple of children in and that enforces the judgement even more. But it couldn’t be further from the truth, as a mum you juggle a lot and I’m used to working all hours, my startups are like my children too. Some people have never run a startup before, I have for years and it’s my way of life. My children inspire me and whenever we launch any new AI-powered video product, they are the first ones I test it on. After all it has to be simple enough for a 5 year old to understand! You have to focus and not be distracted by the negative energy. The more successful you become, the more people want to tear you down, this is something I don’t understand. But you do get stronger over time and just need to focus on running forward at speed and as a woman..in heels!

Details about your company and its unique services/products.

Searchie is the original company we developed in 2018, which is an AI-powered video platform for those who are applying for jobs. It is also being used to evaluate the competencies of existing teams. More focus needs to shift to personality and untapped potential, not a history of what people have done. We’re allowing companies to focus on
the future and potential of each person, all through remote screening tools-something of huge value for these days.
In March 2020 we pivoted and launched Mediscreen – this is a virtual video powered triage to help doctors, governments, employers and health authorities prescreen on the scale. It’s being used for COVID-19 and some doctors have also started using it for Virtual Cardiac prescreening too. It is also helping employers phase back to work safely or help safeguard employees through regular checks. This will change the face of health care forever and CNN and CNBC have also featured it. In the era of virtual work and health, we are strongly positioned to leverage both through our businesses. Timing is everything and we are fortunate that we were able to build solutions for current challenges which we could not have predicted a year ago.

Current industry scenario from your perspective.

Well the HR industry will have huge challenges, the unemployment rate is very high and will continue to rise globally. Companies will receive much more applicants per role – this is the exact problem we are fixing – our AI can interview every single person and give them a chance to all be assessed in the same way, regardless of gender, age, nationality and status. The employers will then get the top 5. Full profiles with videos, personality reports and CV all digital in one place. This is creating diversity and inclusion, we are helping fix bias in the recruitment process. With regards to the Healthcare industry there is a massive opportunity. Every country is looking to digitise and create more efficient virtual healthcare, Mediscreen is well positioned to take advantage of this shift and assist in the transformation. It is estimated that $11.7 trillion dollars will be spent in healthcare between now and 2022 and $670 billion will be generated in 2020, from AI powered systems, these are the sort of numbers we like to see! Major achievements Searchie was voted as 1 of the top 10 companies shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution in 2019 by the World Economic Forum. We were flown to join global leaders and have discussions with Professor Klaus Schwab (Chairman of World Economic Forum) who is a remarkable person.

Mediscreen was developed in 14 days and launched during COVID-19 and has customers globally and growing fast, pivoted into healthcare has been a great move.

Future Perspective.

We are focusing on ensuring our platform can handle huge scale, across many countries. Our goal is to become a $100 million dollar company by July 2021.

Advise to the budding entrepreneurs.

Are you sure you want to do it??? You have to be obsessed, tough and hardworking. Please don’t think you can work the hours you want and that’s the only reason you want to be an entrepreneur. You will work more hours than you could ever imagine – if you still want to do it and don’t mind sleepless nights, sacrificing comfort, holidays, weekends, lifestyle…then do it! But do it with your whole soul vested into the venture and don’t give up at the first hurdle. You will break and fall apart time and time again, but wow…..the highs are out of this world! You won’t get this same kind of feeling in any corporate job. Nothing comes close to that feeling of building something from scratch and seeing it grow into a impactful, successful, global company.